Finding 504390 (2023-001)

Significant Deficiency Repeat Finding
Requirement
C
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2023
Accepted
2024-11-01
Audit: 326953
Organization: Township of Bloomfield (NJ)

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: The Township failed to request reimbursements for paid expenses and did not remit interest over $100 to the U.S. Treasury.
  • Impacted Requirements: Compliance with 2 CFR Part 200 regarding cash management and timely drawdowns.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: Enhance drawdown policies, ensure timely reimbursement requests, and remit excess interest to the U.S. Treasury.

Finding Text

Finding 2023-001 Information on the federal program: Community Development Block Grant, CFDA #14.218, Grant Period 1/1/23 - 12/31/23 Compliance/Internal Control over Compliance: Cash Management Criteria or specific requirement: 2 CFR Part 200 Appendix XI Compliance Supplement, Section 3.2C. Cash management requires that program costs must be paid by the Township before reimbursement is requested from the Federal government. Also, interest earned in excess of $100 on grant advances held in an interest-bearing account must be remitted to the U.S. Treasury. Condition: The Township did not initiate drawdowns for some expenses that had been paid. Interest earnings exceeded $100 and were not remitted to the U.S. Treasury as required. Questioned costs: Undetermined Context: During our review of cash management, we noted that there were various expenditures made that had yet to be drawn down through IDIS. Effect: The Township’s prior year substantial reconciled balance was utilized as program income for various eligible projects, however, now that other expenses have been made with no monies drawn down, the account is underfunded. In addition, interest is accumulating on grant advances in excess of $100 and not being remitted to the U.S. Treasury. Cause: Financial drawdown policies and procedures are lacking and/or inadequate. Drawdown procedures are not consistently performed as expenses are incurred. Recommendation: The Township’s drawdown policies and procedures be enhanced; that once expenditures are processed for payment, the drawdown should be initiated through IDIS to ensure all expenses are properly drawn down and proper cash flow is maintained. Interest earned over $100 be remitted to the U.S. Treasury. Management’s response: The Township of Bloomfield should establish financial drawdown policies and provide training to its staff to ensure compliance with the cash management compliance requirements of the Community Development Block Grant Program.

Corrective Action Plan

Policies and procedures will be implemented to ensure the CDBG IDISC04PR29 cash on hand quarterly reports are prepared correctly and in agreement with the reconciled cash balances on hand.

Categories

Cash Management

Other Findings in this Audit

  • 504391 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 504392 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency
  • 1080832 2023-001
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1080833 2023-002
    Significant Deficiency Repeat
  • 1080834 2023-003
    Significant Deficiency

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
21.027 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $14.06M
14.871 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers $3.16M
97.036 Disaster Grants - Public Assistance (presidentially Declared Disasters) $1.44M
14.218 Community Development Block Grants/entitlement Grants $837,238
93.323 Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases (elc) $127,576
97.044 Assistance to Firefighters Grant $62,074
20.616 National Priority Safety Programs $51,700
20.205 Highway Planning and Construction $25,345
20.600 State and Community Highway Safety $19,320
16.922 Equitable Sharing Program $16,944
16.607 Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program $7,565
97.042 Emergency Management Performance Grants $5,000